Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-10
SCIENCE GOSSIP.
some Curiosifies of Nature and Re-
cent Invention.

A manufacturer Of Roubaix has in
vented useful application of electri-
city to looms. He adopts an indicator
which strikes when a thread breaks,
and thus saves the weaver from the
close attention to the quickly-moyiny
threads, which is so injurious to the
sight.
An assistant of Professor Virchow.
DR.. Grawitz, finds that about one third
Of the cases pronounced in life muscu-
lar rheumatism are shown by post-mor-
tenn examination to be due TO trichinp,
or pork. worms. In instances observed,
it is said tho parasites must have been
present in the muscles for many years.
An electric whistle is easily made by
fitting small brass tube with suitable
apertures so that it opens against the
spring Of mske-and break OF the usual
electric hammer type. Such whistles
are cheaper to make than electric bells,
and may be made to give very melodi-
Gus sounds. They have recently been
introduced in France. and their use
seems to be meeting with favor.
In tho quarternary gravels OF the
Loire Valley, France, there are nu-
merous specimens Of stones, about !
inches in diameter, which are remark
able for being hollow and enclosing
liquid water, and sometimes q loose
stony nucleus. 1t is supposed that tho
water must have penetrated the peb-
bes through their minute pores, for
not a sign of q crack can be seen, eyea
by the aid Of strong glass.
1t appears from a memoir sent by
DR.. Jammes to the Academic DIES Sci
ences that, unlike other animals, mon
keys readily acquire the habit OF
taking morphia. When monkeys live
with opium smokers and become ac-
customed to a medicated atmosphere
they acquire taste for the poison.
One monkey, for instance, would wait
until his master had laid aside his pipe
and would then take it up and smoke
what remained. IL not allowed to do
so for several days it would fall into n
state of depression and stupor, which
disappeared as soon % the stimulant
wns supplied.
An interesting account has lately
been given before the Farmers Club OF
the employment of electricity ON the
Hatfield estate, belonging to the Mar
quis of Salisbury 1t appears that at
Hatfield electricity is now used for
working elevators to build up the hay
aad corn stacks, for emitting the rough
grasses into chat for ensilagc, for
grinding barley. maize, etc, for cattle
feeding 1t is also used for pumping
sewage on to the higher lands, and ar
ranQements have been made TO thresh by
it. The power required is obtained FROM
aliver which runs through the estate,
there being q water-whcel in a central
station, so that the cost OF the power IS
merely nominal.
During the last twenty years various
attempts have been made to produce a
paper barrel that would answer all the
purposes for which the wooden barrel
is used. Recently barrel has bscn
produced from paper pulp, its general
appearance being that of the common
wooden barrel thickly vanished, while
only five pieces nro used in making it.
1t is bound with ordinary wooden
hoops, and tho head is of oae piece, 50
constructed that it fits into the barrel
air-tight, and is held firmly in place by
n hoop without tho uss of nails. The
body is seamless, and the interior and
exterior are glazed with 3 substance
which renders the barrel imperyiou5 to
moisture, so that liquids can be trans
ported in it without loss.